Mobility is key to the Inland Empire’s future economic growth and quality of life. This dialogue series has been developed to address the numerous Inland Empire projects and initiatives designed to improve mobility. Advanced technology will be the dominant factor in our automobiles, rail transportation, the movement of freight, and the organization of our communities. Few will doubt the assertion that the change we are about to face is at least as great in the 21st Century as was the transportation changes that occurred in the early 20th Century as we moved from horse and buggies to planes, trains, and automobiles.
As exciting as this impending future may be, it is very important to remind ourselves that we live in a democratic society in which an informed electorate is the best guarantee of a strong and stable society. However, given the rapid pace of events, most people today are not informed about the many issues related to the imminent changes in our transportation infrastructure, few are aware of the many transportation-related projects and initiatives, and fewer still are involved in any meaningful way in the decisions that are being made. There are differing opinions regarding the magnitude of the problems and the relative merit of various potential solutions. Moreover, there is currently no authoritative place that people who are not directly involved in ongoing discussions can go to obtain a comprehensive overview of our mobility needs, the related social concerns, and the projects and initiatives now being discussed to address them. The purpose of Inland Empire Mobility Dialogue Series is to provide that forum.
Let's Keep the Conversations Going!
The Inland Empire Mobility Dialogue Series Continues
Thank you for joining us as the conversation continues in the sixth year of the CSUSB Leonard Transportation Center Inland Empire Mobility Dialogue Series!
Save the date for our upcoming events, where we will continue to have vital conversations on transportation topics that affect the Inland Empire.
#LTCtalks and #LTCtalk2024 is the official event hashtag!
Additional Information:
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2024 Dialogue Topics
October 15, 2024 | 8:00 am - 10:00 am
THE INTERPLAY OF AVIATION AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION IN THE INLAND EMPIRE’S GOODS MOVEMENT SECTOR
GUEST SPEAKERS
THE ROLE OF THE SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Mike Burrows
San Bernardino International Airport
THE ROLE OF MARCH JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY
Grace I. Martin
March Joint Powers Authority
THE ROLE OF THE ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Atif Elkadi
Ontario International Airport
DIALOGUE 6
December 10, 2024 | 8:00-10:00 am
How Does State Policy Shape the Transportation Landscape of the IE Region?
PREVIOUS DIALOGUES
DIALOGUE 1
February 20, 2024 | 8:00-10:00 am
Safeguarding Inland Empire's Public Transportation Networks: Challenges and Solutions for Transit Security
GUEST SPEAKERS
SPEAKER 1
Gene Luevano | Lead Transportation Security Inspector with U.S. Department of Homeland Security
SPEAKER 2
John Curley | Chief of Safety and Security for Foothill Transit
SPEAKER 3
Isabel Cervantes | Intelligence and Crime Analysis with Homeland Security Concentration Student at California State University, San Bernardino
Lorraine Lopez | Intelligence and Crime Analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Concentration Graduate of California State University, San Bernardino
Raquel Guerrero | Criminal Justice Student at California State University, San Bernardino
DIALOGUE 2
April 16, 2024 | 8:00-10:00 am
Equity And Inclusivity in Transportation Funding: Bridging Gaps for the Inland Empire's Future Mobility
GUEST SPEAKERS
SPEAKER 1
Lacy Vong | Promoting Equitable Outcomes Through Funding Priorities
SPEAKER 2
Warren Whiteaker | A Regional Perspective on Funding and Transportation and the Implications for Equity
SPEAKER 3
Steve Smith, Monique Arellano, Andrea Zureick | Funding, Equity, and Partnerships at SBCTA
SPEAKER 4
Amber Collins | Navigating a Competitive Transportation Funding Landscape and Diverse Communities Strategies for Positioning Projects
DIALOGUE 3
June 18, 2024 | 8:00-10:00 am
Fueling The Future: Advancing Hydrogen Technology and Infrastructure in the Inland Empire
GUEST SPEAKERS
SPEAKER 1
Edith Moreno | Strategy and Policy Manager
SPEAKER 2
Alejandra Hormaza | Assistant Professor
DIALOGUE 4
August 20th, 2024 | 8:00-10:00 am
Strategies for Strengthening the Inland Empire’s Transportation Workforce
GUEST SPEAKERS
SPEAKER 1
Bradley Gates | Director of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board and the Workforce Development Department
SPEAKER 2
Terry Bills | Transportation Industry Manager at Esri
SPEAKER 3
Christine Glass | Director of Human Resources at Omnitrans
The Issue
The Inland Empire has a number of multi-model centers that are based around aviation. Air cargo ports function along with passenger service to support goods movements. This Dialogue will look at the current air and ground connections, as well as the future use of the region’s airports in the delivery of goods.
Agenda
8:00-8:10 am - WELCOMING REMARKS: HNTB, Omnitrans & CSUSB
8:10-8:20 am - OVERVIEW
Dr. Kimberly Collins, Leonard Transportation Center
8:20-8:25 am - AUDIENCE POLL #1
8:25-8:40 am - SPEAKER
Mike Burrows, San Bernardino International Airport
8:40-8:45 am - AUDIENCE POLL #2
8:45-9:00 am - SPEAKER
Dr. Grace I. Martin, March Joint Powers Authority
9:00-9:05 am - AUDIENCE POLL #3
9:05-9:20 am - SPEAKER
Atif Elkadi, Ontario International Airport
9:20-9:25 am - AUDIENCE POLL #4
9:25-9:55 am - DISCUSSION
9:55-10:00 am - Wrap-Up and Adjourn
Speaker Bios
Mike Burrows
Chief Executive Officer
Michael Burrows currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for the Inland Valley Development Agency and SBD International Airport, overseeing the privatization of the former Norton Air Force Base in Southern California, which includes Alliance California, a Hillwood development. As an established development and transportation professional, with over 28 years of public and private sector management expertise. Michael has a proven background in municipal, special district, corporate, transportation, commercial development, real estate, international trade, foreign direct investment, and legislative sectors - focusing his efforts on delivering quality projects, programs, and services, including strategic planning, capital planning, strategic alliances, and public- private partnerships. Mr. Burrows received undergraduate degrees from California State University, San Bernardino and an M.B.A. from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management in Claremont, CA.
Since 1997, he has dedicated himself to transportation, infrastructure, and economic development in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. During his tenure with the Inland Valley Development Agency and Airport, Mr. Burrows has worked to advance over $340M in public infrastructure projects, resulting in over $2.5B in private investment, contributing to a total of over $11.4B in assessed value across a 14,000-acre project area. The Alliance California partnership has attracted major Fortune 50, 100, and 500 firms to the former base - just reaching over 16 Million square feet of new development. In December of 2016, the community witnessed years of revitalization efforts produce 10,786 direct jobs – finally replacing the jobs lost when the base closed. In 2023, the total rose to over 18,100 direct jobs bringing over $4.8 Billion in economic output for the region. The Airport currently serves multiple MRO’s, as well as both UPS and Fed Ex scheduled air cargo gateways and the only Amazon Air Regional Air Hub in Southern California making it among the fastest growing air cargo airports in the United States for a seventh year in a row. In August of 2022, the Airport celebrated long-awaited passenger flights with daily service to San Francisco and Provo with Breeze Airways, still flying today at SBD. https://Flysbd.com
Michael previously worked for the Staubach Company, a real estate/corporate services consulting firm, managing multi-jurisdictional capital and development projects and programs, including asset management and facility development for BNSF Railway Company and its transportation clients throughout the Southwestern United States. Mr. Burrows coordinated property acquisition and entitlements for transload, auto dock, intermodal, and main line freight, commuter, intercontinental rail corridor expansions throughout California, as well as related sales and lease transactions. From Federal grant administration to municipal finance, Foreign Direct Investment programs, business incentive and legislative campaigns to organizational development, environmental planning, permitting, transaction management, and resource alignment. He has successfully deployed over $115 Million in EB-5 portfolios and over $245 Million in municipal financings. He currently serves on several boards of directors and organizations and is a member of the California Inland Empire District Export Council (CIEDEC), a U.S. Department of Commerce Federal appointment. He continues to serve as President of SBD Cares, a California non-profit corporation and helped found the UAS Center at SBD.
Dr. Grace I. Martin
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Grace I. Martin is the Chief Executive Officer for the March Joint Powers Authority and related entities that include the March Inland Port Airport Authority, the March Joint Powers Utilities Authority, and the Successor Agency to the former March Joint Powers Redevelopment Agency. She oversees the administration and redevelopment of more than 3,500-acres of former military properties around the March Air Reserve Base. With more than 25 years of experience in community and economic development within public and private sectors, Dr. Martin provides executive leadership and guidance to policymakers from the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris and Riverside County that make up the Commission of March JPA. Through public- private partnerships, March JPA has successfully created the largest employment center in the Inland Empire with an economic impact of more than $4.5 billion, and over 15,000 jobs created for local communities.
Dr. Martin served in the Army National Guard from 2003 through 2011. She was a 2017 Woman of Distinction Honoree and the 2018 Veteran of the Year Award recipient for Assembly District 61. Dr. Martin holds a Bachelor of Science degree from USC in Urban Planning and Civil Engineering; a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management from the University of La Verne; and a Doctorate in Policy, Planning & Development from USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy.
Atif Elkadi
Chief Executive Officer
Atif Elkadi serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Ontario International Airport, where he oversees day-to-day operations, a major capital development program, revenue management, marketing, communications, and IT. With over 17 years of senior-level experience in the aviation industry, Atif has led efforts to drive passenger and revenue growth through innovative strategies.
Before becoming CEO, Atif served as Deputy CEO and Senior Director of Marketing at Ontario. His career includes key roles at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dubai International Airport, where he developed communication strategies, managed public relations, and led social media and customer service initiatives.
Atif holds a Master's in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor's in Journalism from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Platinum Sponsors
HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and contractors. HNTB’s work in California dates back to its founding in 1914. Today, HNTB continues to grow in size and service offerings to its clients in California. HNTB’s eight California office locations, including one in the Inland Empire, currently employ more than 350 full-time professionals. With more than a century of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure projects and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial, and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program management, and construction management. For more information, visit www.hntb.com.
San Bernardino International Airport
Located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles and within 30 minutes of more than two million people, the former Norton Air Force Base was converted to civilian use in 1992 and later became certified as a commercial-service airport by the FAA. Scheduled passenger service began in August 2022, with Breeze Airways’ nonstop flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and one-stop, same-plane service to Provo, Utah (PVU). New coast-to-coast flights on Breeze Airways to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and one-stop, same-plane service to Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Connecticut, begin February 15, 2024. In June 2023 San Bernardino International Airport was identified as the most affordable airport in the nation based on average air fare during calendar year 2022 according to the US Department of Transportation as reported by Travel + Leisure magazine. The Airport also offers a full range of services and facilities to support additional domestic and international passenger airline service, air cargo operations, general aviation, and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses. The domestic passenger terminal is located at 105 N. Leland Norton Way, San Bernardino, CA, off the I-10 and I-210 freeways. On-airport parking is only $5.00 per day. For more information, please visit FlySBD.com.
Ontario International Airport
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which, before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Gold Sponsors
Woodruff
SoCalGas
OmniTrans
Omnitrans is the award-winning public transit agency serving the San Bernardino Valley, connecting our community with coordinated and sustainable transit service. The agency currently operates local and express bus routes, sbX bus rapid transit service, OmniRide microtransit service, and Access paratransit service for people with disabilities. Omnitrans also is a major regional employer, with more than 500 direct employees.
The agency carries approximately 6 million passengers each year throughout its 480-square mile service area, covering 15 cities and portions of unincorporated San Bernardino County. Major destinations within the Omnitrans service area include transportation centers, medical centers, schools, and shopping, business, and community centers. More information can be found at Omnitrans.org. Please follow @Omnitrans on social media channels.
U.S. National Science Foundation
The NSF supports the Dialogue Series through the S-STEM program (award # DUE-2322436), and recognizes the importance of 1) building a forum for engaging local communities on transportation-related topics, 2) increasing career awareness among undergraduate students, and 3) creating connections and opportunities through alignment with related initiatives and events.
Silver Sponsors
BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY!
Leonard Transportation Center provides Inland Empire problem-solvers with a forum to engage in essential discussion.
If you would like more information about becoming a sponsor for the Inland Empire Mobility Dialogue Series, please contact the Leonard Transportation Center at ltc@csusb.edu or call at (909) 537-5094.